Tucker Cipriano pleaded no contest to felony murder June 17 at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac. He will be sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday. / BRIAN KAUFMAN/DFP

Written by

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Tucker Cipriano’s father taught him to stand up and take responsibility. And that’s what the 20-year-old plans to do Wednesday when he is sentenced for beating his father to death with a baseball bat more than a year ago, according to his attorney.

Cipriano has spent the last several weeks crafting a four-page statement he plans to read when he faces his grieving family, friends and their supporters in an Oakland County courtroom, said his attorney, Mitchell Ribitwer.

Cipriano and 21-year-old Mitchell Young will both be sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday for the April 16, 2012, baseball bat attack in the Cipriano family home in Farmington Hills. The attack killed Robert Cipriano, 52, and nearly killed Cipriano’s mother, Rose, 51, and brother Salvatore, 18.

Cipriano family members also are expected to speak at the sentencing before Judge Shalina Kumar, but it’s not clear whether Rose Cipriano will make a statement.

Ribitwer said Tucker Cipriano has been working on his statement since pleading no contest to felony murder last month, a move Ribitwer said he made to spare his family from testifying. Young was convicted by jury on June 28 of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of armed robbery.

“He’s going to talk about how great his dad was, and how his mom was amazing, how she was there every step of the way for him,” said Ribitwer, who has read Cipriano’s statement. “How he wishes he had his dad back, and how much he loves his brothers and sister.”

(Page 2 of 2)

His demeanor was much different in the days and weeks following his arrest. In early court hearings, Cipriano appeared nonchalant, disinterested and sometimes smug, with a small smile on his lips.

It is not clear whether Young plans to speak, although he will have an opportunity to do so.

“You might hear from him, but I’m not 100% certain,” said his attorney, Michael McCarthy.

The sentencing will be the first time Cipriano’s family members speak publicly about the attacks. Several were listed as possible witnesses for Young’s trial — including Rose, and Salvatore’s twin, Tanner, and sister Isabella, now 9, who witnessed the attacks but were not injured — but none were called to testify.

Several siblings of Rose and Robert Cipriano attended the trial. It is not clear whether any immediate family members will be in the courtroom for the sentencing or whether others may speak on their behalf.

Rose Cipriano, who suffered life-threatening head injuries in the assault, was hospitalized for several weeks but has now returned home. Salvatore Cipriano remains in a medical facility recovering from his wounds.

Authorities have said Tucker Cipriano and Young, high on synthetic marijuana, broke into the family’s home that night in search of money for more drugs. The young men entered through the garage, killed Robert Cipriano when he confronted them in the kitchen and then attacked Rose and Salvatore.

Tanner Cipriano called 911. Young was arrested at the house, and Cipriano was found a few hours later in Keego Harbor.

The attacks horrified the community and prompted lawmakers to outlaw synthetic marijuana, which was being sold in gas stations and party stores.